Do You Remember Archive

Throwback Thursday, again… we found a unique Racer Pedal Car that looks like a 1930’s / 40’s racer.

Pedal cars for children first appeared in the late 1880s, when Karl Benz introduced his three-wheel Patent Motorwagen for adults. By the early 1900s, pedal cars were widespread in the United States, England, France, and Australia.

One of the first companies to make three-wheel velocipedes for children was Whitney Reed. Because automobiles are the main type of pedal toy sought by collectors, pedal toys like the early Whitney Reeds can be surprisingly easy to acquire.

The heyday for pedal cars in the United States occurred between the World Wars. For example, pedal cars were fixtures in Sears catalogs. Unfortunately, the pedal cars were only sent to customers who lived near railroad tracks because mailing a steel car, even a small one, was simply not possible.

Other companies that made pedal cars in the ’20s and ’30s included American National Automobiles of Toledo and Steelcraft of Murray. Both of these companies were based in Ohio.

Among other products, Steelcraft made GMC pedal trucks. They also made Mack dumptrucks, Model T Roadsters, Dodge Runabouts, and a Chrysler Roadste. The which had bullet-shaped headlights and rubber tires. Steelcraft’s Chrysler was 50-inches long and could be yours for only $31.50.

Most of us can remember going to the drive in movie theaters when we were younger. Memories of piling into the back of the car, bringing blankets and snacks, and enjoying warm summer evenings with family and friends. It was one of the very good things about growing up!

The drive-in’s peak popularity came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly in rural areas, with some 4,000 drive-ins spread across the United States.

Although many drive-in theaters have succumbed to large and fancy indoor theaters, thankfully there are still some around the state of Colorado that are alive and kicking! So grab some loved ones and head out to some of the drive-in’s listed below for some good ol’ fashioned nostalgia! Click on the theater name for more info!

The Slinky Toy

* The Slinky is a toy that is a precompressed helical spring which was invented by Richard James, a naval engineer, in the early 1940s.

* It was demonstrated at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in 1945. It became an immediate hit, selling its entire inventory of 400 units in 90 minutes.

* The Slinky was originally priced at $1 and has remained modestly priced throughout its history.

* The Slinky is best known for being able to travel down a flight of stairs end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the help of gravity and its own momentum.

* The Slinky was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2000.

* Slinky was named to the Toy Industry Association’s “Century of Toys List”. This is a roll call of the 100 most memorable and most creative toys of the twentieth century. That’s quite an honor!!

*It has been estimated that in its first 60 years Slinky has sold 300 million units.

*In 1999, the Slinky postage stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service.

*The rules that govern the mechanics of a slinky are due to Hooke’s law (a principal of physics) and the effects of gravitation.

*Plastic Slinky toys are also available. They were marketed in the 1970s as a safer alternative to metal slinkys. (They did not present a hazard when inserted into electrical sockets!)

*The plastic spring slinky toy, known as the Plastic Slinky was invented by Donald James Reum, Sr. of Master Mark Plastics in Albany, Minnesota.

*Children of all ages enjoy playing with slinkies. Our granddaughters love playing with them on our short flight of stairs going into the lower level of our house. It’s fun to see how many stairs they can “navigate.”

“Arthur “Big Guy” Carlson tries to run a failing Cincinnati radio station owned by his “tough as nails” mother. His own incompetence is overshadowed by the strange employees that work at the station. From wild Disc Jockeys: Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap to the geeky news director, Les Nessman and obnoxious advertising sales manager, Herb Tarlek.

With the help of saner employees such as Bailey Quarters; the rather shy journalism major; Jennifer Marlowe, the beautiful receptionist who is the very opposite of a stereotypical “Dumb Blonde” and Andy Travis; the studly program director, Carlson tries gimmick after crazy gimmick to bring money into the station and make it a success.”

WKRP premiered September 18, 1978 on the CBS television network, and aired for four seasons and 88 episodes through April 21, 1982. During the third and fourth seasons, CBS repeatedly moved the show around its schedule, contributing to lower ratings and its eventual cancellation.

Remember Pleated Ties?

Remember the old watering can that your parents or grandparents used in the garden? It’s still useful, still works great!

Vintage watering cans make great flower planters and can also be used in a group to really make a statement! They add so much to a garden, flower bed or as decor on the front or back porch. They can even be used inside the house as a unique decorating piece!

The condition of the watering can doesn’t matter…the older it looks, the better it is!

“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that ‘she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow’.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

And look what else you can do with an old watering can:

And More…this is such a unique and useful way to use a watering can. Doesn’t it just make you want to jump under it and have a nice shower? It could also be used in an outdoor shower!